Prelude: An Invitation from Jean (Barazephyr and Maledriel)

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Upon receiving their respective email messages from Jean, Maledriel and Barazephyr burst out speaking at almost exactly the same time. Their words run over one anothers.

{Mal}

Mal looks over to Bobby.

"I've just got an email from the Guv'nor, he wants me in his office at 10."

Bobby will know that "the Guv'nor" is what Mal calls Archangel Jean when he's on the corporeal plane, so there is no confusion with their human work boss. There is no disrespect meant.

{Barazephyr}

''Email from the bossman!'' Barazephyr announces as he drops everything mid-task without a second thought.

''News could be anywhere from 'relatively good' to 'disastrously bad.' Either way; exciting! You wanna tag along?'' he grins already halfway to the door as he heads for the Hummer before any real response can be given. Barazephyr's mind races ahead as he calculates the fastest possible route to Jean’s lab office.

[Juramenta]

{Barazephyr}

Honks the horn as he starts the hummer to notify Mal to get in.
He then focuses his resonance on his area knowledge in order to plot the fastest route to a tether located closest to the lab.

[shaidar]

{Mal}

Mal shoves his laptop into his bag, and climbs into the hummer, bag in hand. Knowing full well how Barazephyr drives when in a hurry he buckles up.

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

The former Houston Technology Center which now houses HOT news lies about 33 miles from the TXRX Labs building in the Innovation Corridor in which the nearest Tether to Lightning is based. The normal drive time for an average human being at this time of day is about 18 or 19 minutes. On the other hand, there is a Tether to Judgment at 1 Justice Drive. It is a bit closer, about 26 miles, and has a 30 minute average drive time. Closer still, a Tether to War sits at the World War I Museum about 20 miles away and would normally take about 27 minutes to reach. Finally, the closest Tether to your current location is one of Destiny’s which sits in the Houston Public Library Central Library. The Central Library is about 17 miles away, and at this time of day, the average human would drive that route in 25 minutes.

Of course, using a Tether of another Superior could mean a bit of politics. With only 33 minutes from receipt of the email to the scheduled meeting, the two angels of Technology will need to choose which they feel will be the most expedient in the end.

[Juramenta]

{Barazephyr}

Barazephyr heads to the tether of lightning unless Mal has a different opinion on it.

[shaidar]

{Mal}

Mal is happy with the Tether of Lightning.

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Barazephyr takes a moment to focus his awareness on the Tether of Lightning, and his mind locks onto the way. Despite the heavy traffic, the Ofanim knows when to shift lanes, when to turn to a different side street, when to speed up, even (rarely) when to slow down to better time the lights. Despite the 18 minute travel time any GPS would predict, pulls up to a parking garage in the Houston Innovation Corridor, barely slowing to grab the ticket, and erringly into the first open parking space. They will have to make the next two blocks to the TXRX Labs where the Tether of Lightning is housed on foot.

[Juramenta]

{Barazephyr}

He decides going for a fun jog unless he feels Mal reluctant to join him for a run.

[shaidar]

{Mal}

Mal decides to leave his suit jacket in the car. Putting his bag over his shoulder he checks the time before setting after Barazephyr at a fast walk.

(He doesn't want to look dishevelled in his videos, but if he thinks he's going to be late if we walks then he will run)

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Judging that based on the speed Barazephyr was tearing through the streets, Maledriel thinks a power walk would get him there with enough time to run a quick comb through his hair – assuming there are no delays in the Tether.

Just when Barazephyr thinks he will go stark raving mad from staying in the same place so long, Maledriel finally catches up at the entry walk to the door.

[shaidar]

{Mal}

Mal gestures to the entrance "Age before beauty." he says with a smile.

[Juramenta]

{Barazephyr}

''You got it boss'' Barazephyr says with a big smile as he slips inside.

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Stepping inside, the cool rush of air conditioning is almost shocking after the short, but swift trip in the Houston sun. After a short entry hall, the space opens up into a loud, echoing ‘makerspace’ with hands-on crafting stations for everything from machining to ceramics. People of all ages work on independent projects while others, teachers or coaches, walk around the room, insuring that everything is being done safely.

[Juramenta]

{Barazephyr}

Barazephyr resists the urge to randomly press buttons or tinker with the gadgets scattered across the various workstations. His fingers twitch, but he doesn't want to cause a scene.
He spins around to walk backwards in order to face Mal as they walk, while spreading his arms wide with an enthusiastic grin.
''Isn't it amazing? I could spend an entire holiday in here just testing everything out!'' he says with excitement to the young angel as they pass by the stations.

[shaidar]

Mal

Mal follows behind Barazephyr, smiling "It's nice to see progress in action."

He opens himself to the symphony, looking for anyone that is at crucial point where a bit of encouragement might be needed to keep them on the path of progress.

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Opening himself to the Symphony, Maledriel is immediately drawn to a group of 4 tween and young teen kids who are softly but passionately arguing about whatever they are building.

[shaidar]

{Mal}

Mal wanders over to the group "Hello, this looks interesting. Do you mind if I ask what is it?"

[Juramenta]

{Barazephyr}

Noticing Mal not following anymore he turns back around and follows him to the station.
Barazephyr peers over his shoulder with wide-eyed curiosity to see what has caught his attention.

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

All four of the kids stop arguing and look up at the two strange adults who approach their table. They seem caught between surprise, embarrassment, and concern. It is the tween girl who speaks first. With long black hair, deep brown eyes, and smooth wheatish-almond skin, she looks like she may have some Indian or Hindustan ancestry.

Her eyes narrow at the question, and she looks the two adults up and down. Though her nostrils flare and her lips form a tight line, she answers in a respectful tone. “It’s nothing at the moment, sir,” she says. “It’s going to be a robot if these three…” The tween cuts herself off, takes a slow breath, and visibly edits what she started to say. “If my partners will quit resting on our laurels, living in the past, and let me lead them into something really innovative.”

[shaidar]

{Mal}

Mal smiles "A robot? That really is interesting, and you certainly sound passionate about your idea. In my experience innovation requires such passion, but you're having trouble convincing your associates? Sometimes taking a chance requires a leap of faith, and that can be difficult and scary."